Motion for NT ICAC-style body fails

A motion to create an independent anti-corruption body in the Northern Territory has failed.

The vote was split 12-12 but as Speaker Kezia Purick did not cast a vote the motion was not passed.

The debate on Wednesday evening was hijacked by the member for Araluen, Robyn Lambley, who announced her resignation from the Country Liberals to sit as an independent.

She follows two other high profile CLP women to depart this year: former opposition leader Jodeen Carney, who advised Chief Minister Adam Giles after he seized power in March 2013, and former member for Katherine Fay Miller.

They follow Alison Anderson and Larisa Lee's departures from the party last April.

"To any woman contemplating a future in politics with the Country Liberal Party, think carefully about your ability to endure what can only be described as abuse," Ms Lambley warned.

She said the NT had for too long been run like "a secret boys' club" and a few of her colleagues had made her life "hell" over recent months.

Related Articles

She said she supported Labor's motion for the establishment of an independent anti-corruption watchdog.

"I do not believe the NT has the checks and balances to ensure strong, objective and independent investigation into the public administration," Ms Lambley said.

Independent MP Nelson Gerry Wood also backed the creation of an anti-corruption body, saying Territorians were disenchanted with the government.

"I personally feel I've been let down by the chief minister," he said, referring to Adam Giles' broken promise to hold an inquiry into political donations.

Deputy Opposition Leader Lynne Walker recited a litany of scandals she said proved the need for an independent watchdog, including the ongoing question mark over the alleged slush fund Foundation 51, and potential abuses of ministerial travel.

Attorney-General John Elferink said in spite of swirling rumours of wrongdoing, "when it actually distils to 'where is the evidence, show me the money', it doesn't come forth".

"I have not yet heard a specific allegation of corruption," he said.

He also said the NT's small size meant it would be difficult to find degrees of separation in policing and the judiciary where a corruption commission could remain independent.

Chief Minister Giles said there were plenty of oversight bodies in the NT to deal with such matters, such as the parliamentary privileges and estimates committees, the ombudsman, the public interest disclosure commissioner, the auditor-general, the media, and the court of public opinion.